Chamber of Commerce heads from U.S., Mexico, Canada to meet in support of NAFTA renewal

Chamber of Commerce heads from U.S., Mexico, Canada to meet in support of NAFTA renewal

Leaders of the Calgary and Edmonton metropolitan Chambers of Commerce are among those set to gather in Montreal on Monday to send a strong message that they are collectively united in favour of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Calgary, Edmonton leaders to attend meeting in advance of next round of negotiations

Leaders from Chambers of Commerce across Canada, the U.S. and Mexico will meet in Montreal on Monday. (Graham Hughes/Canadian Press)

Leaders of 27 metropolitan Chambers of Commerce from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico will gather in Montreal on Monday to send a strong message that they are collectively united in favour of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

"As representatives of the business community and Canada, Mexico and the U.S., we think it's important that all governments from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico understand that we are in support of NAFTA and that we share a common desire to maintain free trade between us," Zoe Addington, Calgary Chamber's director of policy, told CBC News.

The meeting, which is an initiative of the Canadian Global Cities Council, will see eight Canadian, eleven American and eight Mexican chambers in attendance — collectively representing economic zones worth more than $1.4 trillion US.

"NAFTA is an exceptionally good deal for all three countries," said Addington.

"NAFTA has created economic ties between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico that have quadrupled trade, have increased investment and increased jobs."

Majority of Alberta's exports go to U.S., Mexico

The trade agreement adds up to over $1.5 trillion US annually, and that 14 million jobs in the U.S., two million in Canada and three million in Mexico depend on trade between the three countries, said Addington.

In Canada, Alberta is the second-most dependent province on NAFTA — in 2015, 88 per cent of exports from the province went to either the U.S. or Mexico.

New Brunswick and Ontario would also likely be hit hard if the deal were to crumble.